The Los Angeles Dodgers have complicated the picture for Rafael Furcal, and now the free-agent shortstop is not expected to make a decision as to his 2006 team until this weekend or later.
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The Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves all are aggressively pursuing Furcal, who reportedly has a five-year offer on the table from the Cubs.
A week ago, it appeared to be down to the Cubs and Braves, but the hiring of new general manager Ned Colletti has changed the winter plans in Los Angeles. With the Dodgers apparently having lost out on outfielder Brian Giles -- he was expected to sign with San Diego by the end of the day Thursday -- Furcal, one of the bigger impact players remaining on the free agent market, now is in the Dodgers' sights.
"Once they hired Ned, he's been pretty aggressive," Paul Kinzer, Furcal's agent, told CBS SportsLine.com on Thursday afternoon. "They are involved. They have serious interest.
"All three teams are still involved."
Kinzer said that Furcal hopes to make a decision by the start of the winter meetings Monday in Dallas.
The Dodgers already have a shortstop in Cesar Izturis, though he underwent Tommy John ligament transfer surgery on his right elbow in mid-September and is expected to miss half of the 2006 season.
If they were able to lure Furcal west, he could play shortstop and Izturis could shift over to second upon his return -- with Jeff Kent perhaps moving to first.
Or, once Izturis returns, Furcal could move to the outfield.
Colletti said this week that acquiring an outfielder is his top priority, though with Giles now apparently off the board, the Dodgers will have to resort to Plan B or C. They also have Milton Bradley, though it is expected that they will either trade him or not tender him a contract for 2006, making him a free agent.
Colletti did say on Wednesday, however, that he has not yet decided what to do with the volatile outfielder, and it's not out of the question that Bradley could come back despite the bitter verbal battle he engaged in with Kent toward the end of last season.
The Cubs, who already have signed free agent relievers Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre this winter, are thought to have offered Furcal the most lucrative package. Cubs GM Jim Hendry was in Atlanta to meet with Furcal on Sunday, and it is no secret that the Cubs are intent on signing a leadoff hitter this winter.
Furcal batted .284 with 12 homers, 58 RBI and a career-high 46 stolen bases in Atlanta last summer, and the Braves badly want him back as well. Planning for the worst, though, Atlanta is speaking with Tampa Bay about trading for Devil Rays shortstop Julio Lugo as a backup plan if Furcal departs.
